Wednesday 27 February 2008 07.19 EST
First published on Wednesday 27 February 2008 07.19 EST

A poll for today's Ha'aretzfound nearly two-thirds of Israelis want their government to hold direct talks with the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas in Gaza to try to bring about a ceasefire. Only 28% of those polled said they were against such talks.

"According to the findings, Israelis are fed up with seven years of Qassam rockets falling on Sderot and the communities near Gaza, as well as the fact that [Israeli soldier Gilad] Shalit has been held captive for more than a year and a half. An increasing number of public figures, including senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces' reserves, have expressed similar positions on talks with Hamas."

Last week, Eli Moyal, the mayor of the border town of Sderot, which is regularly targeted by Hamas rocket attacks, said he was ready to talk to Hamas in the hope it would save lives.